I would have ordered through ozgameshop.com, but I just don't know when they can deliver the game as I have never pre-ordered any game through them before. I don't know if they get the game early and have it delivered close to release date, or whether they send it out on release date, which means you get the game a week later than everyone else.
So I went with EB Games as I know I will have the game on release day with the pre-order bonuses included. It costs a lot more than ozgameshop (nearly twice the cost - ozgameshop are selling the Limited Edition for $46.99 with free delivery), but that is a price I am willing to pay to have the game on release day.

Thanks for your opinion as it pretty much matches mine.

I ordered Empire+Napoleon Total War Game of the Year pack and they took about 5 days to arrive from the UK.

I am not fussed about zero day release pickup as I had my copy of Star Trek Online sitting at the ebgames store for about a week.

Given Australia is UTC+10 hours ahead, I expect that we will get it first anyway.

Though I fear that zero day game will be unplayable as the game servers get clogged with eager new BF3 players.

The Star Trek collectable pin gave me 30 seconds of pleasure and I have never looked at it since.

I rank the BF3 Dog tags and the logoed cap as a dust gatherer with 30 seconds of value before being shoved into a closet.

It does rankle a bit to pay double the game price to get a few time exclusive unlocks but I did enjoy the ingame items that came with the BFBC2 preorder from EBgames.

Remember that the Physical Warfare pack will be available to everyone at no charge sometime after release. People who preorder from retailers offering the PW pack get to use it from day 1 though and dont have to wait.

The other packs (SPECACT and Dog tag) will probably be available later, but if you dont get them via preorder bonuses you will probably have to pay for them.

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23 years of FPS experience. That doesnt make me feel old. P4wning kids that I know have been alive for less time than I have been gaming - that makes me feel old.

found this post.... notice the text in green, there is a chance it may still be available on steam.

Quote:

Of course EA is blaming this Battlefield 3/Steam issue on Valve, here's their policy:

EA Policy on Selling Games on Third-Party Download Sites

At EA, we believe in choice. We want our products in all the places gamers go to download the best games and services. To that end, we offer games to EVERY major download service including Amazon, Walmart, Gamestop, and Steam.

One of the most exciting aspects of games is that they just keep getting bigger and better. Both developers and consumers have evolved beyond the traditional model that used to limit us to 15-20 hours of play on a typical disc. Today, post-launch downloads of new maps, vehicles and other content extend the experience, adding hours of fun and a lot of value.

Every download site that hosts our games sets business terms for our relationship. These terms are often complex, but the goal is to provide a hassle-free experience for the gamer. Prices, content exclusives, and loyalty programs may differ from site to site. Consumers can pick the site that bests suits their needs.

Any retailer can sell our games, but we take direct responsibility for providing patches, updates, additional content and other services for the individuals and communities that play our games. These players are connecting to our servers, so we want to provide them with the very best service. This works well for our partnership with Gamestop, Amazon and other online retailers.

However, when a download service forbids publishers from contacting players with patches, new levels, items and other services – it disrupts our ability to provide the ongoing support players expect from us. At present, this is the case with only one download service. While EA offers its entire portfolio to this site, they have elected to not post many of our games. We hope to find a mutually agreeable solution to this issue soon.

Going forward, EA will continue to work with download partners and continue offering our games for sale on all major download sites.